The annual Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament always attracts the cream of the world's elite players. Except for World Champion Anand and his challenger Topalov, who were preparing for heir upcoming match, the big names were all there in Nice, France last month.The novel format involves a 12-player double round-robin of one 'blindfold' game (played on computer screens without showing either player the pieces, but allowing the audience to follow the play) and one rapid game against each opponent. This means the players can take risks and enjoy themselves in pursuit of the generous prizefund without jeopardising their world ranking.
This year the overall first prize was shared by veteran Ukranian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, who has played in all 19 editions of the Amber tournament held so far, and 19 year old GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who was still a baby when the first Amber tournament was held. Both finished on 14½/22 ahead of Russian GMs Vladimir Kramnik third on 13 and Alexander Grischuk on 12½.
Today's game is the blindfold clash from the first round between the two eventual winners, though Carlsen, playing White, lost both games. This form of chess brings the play of the elite players down to a level we amateurs can understand, with entertaining changes of fortune.
1.a3!? ---
In this context an aggressive move! White wants to sidestep any opening analysis and get to an unknown position as quickly as possible, forcing both players rely on their visualisation skills rather than memories. 1.--- Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Bb5 Rc8 9.g4 Bg6 10.Qa4 Nd7 11.b4 ---
White's opening moves with pawn thrusts on both wings would appear more like those of a beginner than the top ranked player in the world. But the aim of an unusual position has certainly been achieved. 11. --- e6 12.Bb2 Be7 13.Bxc6!? ---
Deciding to capture the a-pawn that has been on offer for some moves – another risky decision, as the queen must lose time getting back to safety. 13.--- bxc6 14.Qxa7 c5! 15.Qa6 O-O 16.Qe2 c4!
Preventing White from castling kingside due to the threat of ...Bd3 winning the exchange. 17.e4 d4 18.Nb5 e5 19.h4 ---
With Black's central dominance absolute, the only chance for White is this kingside advance. 19.--- Qb6 20.a4?! Qb7 21.Ng5 h6?!
Without the handicap of having to construct the position from memory, it is unlikely that both sides would have overlooked that 21...d3! 22 Qe3 h6 wins the e4 pawn as now 23 h5? is met by Bxg5 winning a piece. 22.h5 hxg5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.f3 Bxb4 25.Ba3 Bxa3 26.Rxa3 Qb6 27.Qh2 Qc5
White's check on h7 is of no consequence, as the tripled g-pawns are a surprisingly effective barrier around the black king. The black central pawns are now the deciding factor. 28.Qh7+ Kf7 29.Ra1 Nf6 30.Qh2 Ra8 31.d3? Qxb5!
In a difficult position White blunders a piece to an instructive combination: 32 axb5 Rxa1+ 33 Ke2 Ra2+ skewering king and queen. White Resigns.
Entertaining exhibition in Nice
Problem: White to play and mate in three.
The annual Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament always attracts the cream of the world's elite players. Except for World Champion Anand and his challenger Topalov, who were preparing for heir upcoming match, the big names were all there in Nice, France last month.The novel format involves a 12-player double round-robin of one 'blindfold' game (played on computer screens without showing either player the pieces, but allowing the audience to follow the play) and one rapid game against each opponent. This means the players can take risks and enjoy themselves in pursuit of the generous prizefund without jeopardising their world ranking.
This year the overall first prize was shared by veteran Ukranian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, who has played in all 19 editions of the Amber tournament held so far, and 19 year old GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who was still a baby when the first Amber tournament was held. Both finished on 14½/22 ahead of Russian GMs Vladimir Kramnik third on 13 and Alexander Grischuk on 12½.
Today's game is the blindfold clash from the first round between the two eventual winners, though Carlsen, playing White, lost both games. This form of chess brings the play of the elite players down to a level we amateurs can understand, with entertaining changes of fortune.
1.a3!? ---
In this context an aggressive move! White wants to sidestep any opening analysis and get to an unknown position as quickly as possible, forcing both players rely on their visualisation skills rather than memories.
1.--- Nf6
2.c4 c6
3.Nf3 d5
4.e3 Bg4
5.h3 Bh5
6.cxd5 cxd5
7.Nc3 Nc6
8.Bb5 Rc8
9.g4 Bg6
10.Qa4 Nd7
11.b4 ---
White's opening moves with pawn thrusts on both wings would appear more like those of a beginner than the top ranked player in the world. But the aim of an unusual position has certainly been achieved.
11. --- e6
12.Bb2 Be7
13.Bxc6!? ---
Deciding to capture the a-pawn that has been on offer for some moves – another risky decision, as the queen must lose time getting back to safety.
13.--- bxc6
14.Qxa7 c5!
15.Qa6 O-O
16.Qe2 c4!
Preventing White from castling kingside due to the threat of ...Bd3 winning the exchange.
17.e4 d4
18.Nb5 e5
19.h4 ---
With Black's central dominance absolute, the only chance for White is this kingside advance.
19.--- Qb6
20.a4?! Qb7
21.Ng5 h6?!
Without the handicap of having to construct the position from memory, it is unlikely that both sides would have overlooked that 21...d3! 22 Qe3 h6 wins the e4 pawn as now 23 h5? is met by Bxg5 winning a piece.
22.h5 hxg5
23.hxg6 fxg6
24.f3 Bxb4
25.Ba3 Bxa3
26.Rxa3 Qb6
27.Qh2 Qc5
White's check on h7 is of no consequence, as the tripled g-pawns are a surprisingly effective barrier around the black king. The black central pawns are now the deciding factor.
28.Qh7+ Kf7
29.Ra1 Nf6
30.Qh2 Ra8
31.d3? Qxb5!
In a difficult position White blunders a piece to an instructive combination: 32 axb5 Rxa1+ 33 Ke2 Ra2+ skewering king and queen. White Resigns.
0-1
Solution: 1 Qd6+ Re7 2 Qd8+ Re8 3 e7#.